France. The city of Antibes (between Nice and Cannes). An ancient castle stands on a rocky promontory above the azure expanse of the Mediterranean Sea. Paintings by Pablo Picasso "live" in its stone walls. After the end of the war, the artist crossed the threshold of the castle and was fascinated by it. Picasso stayed there for several months, which became one of the happiest and most fruitful in his life. There weren't enough canvases, so I painted on whatever I had to. But there was the sea, the sky and freedom. When leaving, the artist left a generous gift to the city: 23 paintings and 44 drawings. This is how Grimaldi Castle became the world's first Picasso museum. There's a live queue at the entrance. And there is a special charm in this expectation. You have time to tune in, look around, and hear snatches of French, Italian, and English speech. Before going up to the paintings, you enter the courtyard of the castle, filled with light and silence. The old walls, the sculptures, the shadow and the sun on the slabs are in themselves a work of art, a prelude to a meeting with Picasso. The halls are flooded with light. The museum has a series of paintings on the theme of "Antiquity and the Mediterranean", ceramics, drawings and sketches. In addition to the works of Pablo Picasso, the works of other prominent artists of the last century are presented. Which museums are required to visit? This one is without hesitation. Not because of the size of the collection, it's small, and not because of the big name. Because of the feeling of wholeness and harmony. The place, the artist, the era have fused together. You don't just look at the paintings, but you are present where they were born, you feel the same air and sea. The Louvre (entry dated 12/9/2025) is amazing in scale. Versailles dazzles (entry dated 12/20/2025). Orsay (entry dated 30.03.2026) - originality. And the Musee Picasso in Antibes radiates happiness. That's the kind of feeling a museum can give. If the information is useful to you, please like the review)

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